MLFC is represented on the Moosehead Lake Focus Group, an IF&W authorized committee to assist in setting goals and objectives for the Moosehead Lake fishery. Current goals and objectives include:

MANAGEMENT GOALS:

1. Maintain excellent water quality, aquatic habitat and the traditional fishery resources in the Moosehead Lake ecosystem.

2. Improve, then sustain, the traditional coldwater game fish populations in both abundance and sizes that support high quality winter and summer fisheries.

3. Maintain a high quality fishing experience at Moosehead Lake, its tributaries, and its outlets.

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES:

1. Maintain the water quality and all aquatic habitat at levels described in Moosehead Fishery Management (AuClair, 1982).

2. Maintain the traditional coldwater game fish populations to support fish of the following species, average lengths, average weights and average condition:

            Table 1.  Size Objectives for Fish Harvested 

                                                                        Average           Average           Condition

            Species                                                Length             Weight             Factor             

Landlocked salmon (18” limit - W)    20.0”               40 oz                > 0.85

Landlocked salmon (14” limit - S)      17.0”               24 oz                > 0.85

            Lake trout (18” limit – S&W)             20.0”               40 oz                > 0.85

            Lake trout (14”-18” slot – S&W)       16.0”               20 oz                > 0.85

            Brook trout (12” limit – S&W)           14.0”               16 oz                > 0.90

            Cusk (day incidental catch - W)          18.0”               24 oz

            Cusk (night principal fishery -W)        16.0”               16 oz

3. Maintain catch rates of coldwater game fish with seasonal distributions that have historically provided good fishing experiences, while maintaining harvests within levels that can be sustained:

Table 2.  Moosehead Lake Catch Rate Objectives

                                                                     Fish per              Maximum Recommended Harvest*   

            Species                        Season          Angler Day               Number           Weight            

            Salmon (18” limit)      Winter             >0.07           

           (14” limit)                    Summer           >0.30

                                                Annual                                           13,000             21,000 lbs                                     

            Lake trout                   Winter             >0.25                                                             

            (18” limit)                   Summer           >0.05           

                                                Annual                                           5,000               12,500 lbs                         

            Lake trout                   Winter             As required to achieve and maintain a lake

            (14”-18” slot)             Summer           trout catch with no more than 50% <18”

            Brook trout                 Winter             >0.10                                               

            (12” limit)                   Summer           >0.05                                                                                     

                                               Annual                                            2,000                2,000 lbs

            Cusk (day)                   Winter             >0.10                                               

            Cusk (night)                Winter             >1.00

*The long-term average total annual harvest from Moosehead Lake has been 0.5 pounds of salmonids per acre (37,500 pounds) for all salmonids.

4. Maintain catch rates in the Moose River, the Roach River, and the East Outlet, Kennebec River that have historically reflected good fishing:

            Table 3.  Catch Rate Objectives for Moosehead’s Major Tributaries and Outlet

                                                 Legal-Size Fish Caught per Angler Day 

Species                                     Moose R.        Roach R.         East Outlet 

Landlocked salmon >14”          >0.60            >0.60                >0.60

Brook Trout >12”                     >0.20            >0.40                >0.10

5.  Increase wild landlocked salmon production to contribute 40% or more of the annual salmon fishery, with an annual catch of 5,000 or more wild fish >14”.

6. Protect the natural characteristics of Moosehead Lake and the surrounding environment, factors important to anglers’ traditional use and enjoyment of the fishery. Maintain traditional access to and recreational use opportunities on Moosehead Lake’s presently undeveloped shorelines.

The Focus Group is currently in the process of revisiting the goals to attempt to establish more measurable goals.